consumer advocacy Archives - Page 4 of 10 - Consumers' Federation of Australia

17 September , 2024

Advocates Welcome New Scam Framework, Urge Consumer Safeguards be at the Front and Centre

Consumer Action Law Centre, CHOICE, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Super Consumers Australia, have welcomed the announcement from the Albanese Government of a consultation on a draft bill starting today, for the proposed Scams Prevention Framework. “I congratulate Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and the Albanese Government for pushing ahead with these scam…

9 September , 2024

New Rules for Triple Zero Services a Win for Public Safety

Changes to Triple Zero rules announced by Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland today are an important step to enhance public safety. ACCAN – Australia’s peak body for communications consumers – welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister that several new requirements will apply to mobile carriers in relation to the Triple Zero service. The range of…

6 September , 2024

“Stop dithering on older people’s rights” – Self-Advocates Urge MPs to Act Now on Aged Care Reform

Older people are urging a bipartisan approach from the Federal Government and Opposition to urgently introduce a new rights-based Aged Care Act. Organisations representing older Australians and their carers say the Aged Care Act needs to be introduced into Federal Parliament this sitting fortnight if laws are to be passed this year that address the…

30 August , 2024

Consumer Advocates Call for Mandatory SMS Anti-Scam Registry

The growing rate of scams and the devastating impact they are having on Australians has been recognised by the Federal Government through the establishment of the SMS Sender ID Register – but it should be made mandatory. ACCAN has welcomed this important step in the fight against scams but urges the government to ensure that…

29 August , 2024

ASIC Report Reveals “shameful neglect” of Banks to Customers

A new report published today from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) reveals a “shameful neglect of thousands of banking customers who have been scammed through no fault of their own and collectively lost millions of dollars”, says Consumer Action Law Centre CEO, Stephanie Tonkin. The report, Anti-scam practices of banks outside the four major…

27 August , 2024

Improving Advocacy by Aged Care and Disability Services – New Standard Published

Empowering older people and people with disability to participate effectively in decisions affecting the quality of their lives is a keystone of a civil society. The recent Royal Commissions on ageing and disability highlighted the importance of government-funded advocacy services in the empowerment of older people and people with disability when they need to access government-funded…

8 August , 2024

Over 70% of Consumers Experience Poor Customer Service

CHOICE survey of 6000 consumers reveals many businesses are giving consumers the run-around A new survey of 6000 CHOICE supporters has found that almost 3 in 4 (73%) have experienced poor customer service from a business they dealt with in the preceding year, and 85% believed that customer service provided by businesses is getting worse. …

6 August , 2024

Advocates Continue Call for Reimbursement Policy as Scam Complaints to AFCA go ‘off the charts’

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) received a record number of complaints in 2023-24 after disputes to the ombudsman service increased 9 per cent to more than 105,000 for the year. Complaints about scams, online and personal transaction accounts, credit cards, and personal loans all saw significant increases. Consumer Action Law Centre CEO Stephanie Tonkin…

2 August , 2024

Telco Accessibility Taskforce Accepting Expressions of Interest

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman is establishing a Telco Accessibility Task Force to remove the barriers to effective dispute resolution in the telecommunications industry and improve the industry’s ability to address consumer issues. We are calling for expressions of interest to join the Task Force from cross-sector leaders and decision-makers at telecommunications providers, consumer groups, relevant…

18 July , 2024

Design to Disrupt and Weathering the Storm Awarded the 2024 Consumer Advocacy Award

At the 2024 ACCC National Consumer Congress, the Consumers’ Federation of Australia (CFA) was proud to present our Consumer Advocacy Award for the best consumer advocacy campaign or project of the past year. The nominees this year were all strong contenders: 1. Fair Call, direct regulation for telcos – formed from a coalition of consumer advocates…

16 July , 2024

Banks Victim Shaming Approach ‘immoral’ and Out of Touch with Community Expectations

Banks victim-shaming approach ‘immoral’- Tonkin New polling by Essential Media is unequivocal: the vast majority (75%) of Australians expect banks to keep their money safe from criminal scammers, and if they fail, to return it to their accounts. Australians lost a massive $2.74 billion to scammers in 2023, that’s hundreds of dollars for every household in our country…

15 July , 2024

Joint Call for Action: Addressing Insurance Affordability in Queensland

The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby Inc, Financial Rights Legal Centre (which operates the national Insurance Law Service), Queensland Consumers Federation, Consumers Federation of Australia, Unit Owners Association of Queensland and Owners Corporation Network are united in calling on the Queensland Government to show leadership in addressing the escalating crisis of insurance affordability. In the face…